TY - JOUR
T1 - Perspectives and gaps in the management of food allergy and anaphylaxis in the Asia-Pacific Region
AU - Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology food allergy and anaphylaxis and junior member committees
AU - Leung, Agnes Sze Yin
AU - Pawankar, Ruby
AU - Pacharn, Punchama
AU - Wong, Lydia Su Yin
AU - Le Pham, Duy
AU - Chan, Grace
AU - Rengganis, Iris
AU - Zhao, Jing
AU - Wang, Jiu Yao
AU - Woo, Kent Chee Keen
AU - Ito, Komei
AU - Jeong, Kyunguk
AU - Recto, Marysia
AU - Lucas, Michaela
AU - Nagao, Mizuho
AU - Lobo, Rommel Crisenio M.
AU - Munkhbayarlakh, Sonomjamts
AU - Sumadiono, Sumadiono
AU - Huq, Syed Rezaul
AU - Ranasinghe, Thushali
AU - Tang, Mimi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - Background: Food allergy (FA), which is a condition that has no effective cure and can result in severe life-threatening allergic reactions, remains a global public health concern; however, little is known about how FAs are currently managed in the Asia-Pacific region. Objective: The main objective of this survey was to evaluate the epidemiology of FA, as well as the availability of resources and practices for management of FA and anaphylaxis by health care providers across Asia. Methods: From June 2022 to September 2022, a questionnaire-based survey comprising 66 questions was electronically sent to member societies of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology by using Survey Monkey. Results: A total of 20 responses were received from 15 member countries and territories. Compared with the pediatric data, there was a lack of prevalence data for FA in adults. Except for Australia and Japan, most regions had between 0.1 and 0.5 allergists per 100,000 population and some had fewer than 0.1 allergists per 100,000 population. The perceived rate of FA in regions with a short supply of allergists was high. Although specific IgE tests and oral food challenges were available in all regions, the median wait time for oral food challenges at government facilities was 37 days (interquartile range = 10.5-60 days). Seven regions still relied on prescriptions of ampules and syringes of injectable adrenaline, and adrenaline autoinjectors were not accessible in 4 regions. Oral immunotherapy as FA treatment was available in half of the surveyed countries and territories. Conclusions: Our study offers a cross-sectional evaluation of the management practices for FA in each Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology member country or territory. Urgent actions are required to enhance allergy services, improve the accessibility and affordability of adrenaline autoinjectors, and conduct robust epidemiologic studies.
AB - Background: Food allergy (FA), which is a condition that has no effective cure and can result in severe life-threatening allergic reactions, remains a global public health concern; however, little is known about how FAs are currently managed in the Asia-Pacific region. Objective: The main objective of this survey was to evaluate the epidemiology of FA, as well as the availability of resources and practices for management of FA and anaphylaxis by health care providers across Asia. Methods: From June 2022 to September 2022, a questionnaire-based survey comprising 66 questions was electronically sent to member societies of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology by using Survey Monkey. Results: A total of 20 responses were received from 15 member countries and territories. Compared with the pediatric data, there was a lack of prevalence data for FA in adults. Except for Australia and Japan, most regions had between 0.1 and 0.5 allergists per 100,000 population and some had fewer than 0.1 allergists per 100,000 population. The perceived rate of FA in regions with a short supply of allergists was high. Although specific IgE tests and oral food challenges were available in all regions, the median wait time for oral food challenges at government facilities was 37 days (interquartile range = 10.5-60 days). Seven regions still relied on prescriptions of ampules and syringes of injectable adrenaline, and adrenaline autoinjectors were not accessible in 4 regions. Oral immunotherapy as FA treatment was available in half of the surveyed countries and territories. Conclusions: Our study offers a cross-sectional evaluation of the management practices for FA in each Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology member country or territory. Urgent actions are required to enhance allergy services, improve the accessibility and affordability of adrenaline autoinjectors, and conduct robust epidemiologic studies.
KW - adrenaline autoinjector
KW - allergist
KW - allergy service
KW - anaphylaxis
KW - Food allergy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85185181555&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100202
DO - 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100202
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85185181555
SN - 2772-8293
VL - 3
JO - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global
JF - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global
IS - 2
M1 - 100202
ER -
